Rep. Maurice West

Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person providing goods or services who initiates a debit card preauthorization hold that is more than $2 shall disclose at the time and point of sale that a preauthorization hold will be placed on the customer's debit card account. Provides that if the dollar amount of the preauthorization hold is known by the person initiating the transaction, he or she shall disclose the dollar amount of the preauthorization hold to the customer. Provides that if the preauthorization hold is initiated at an unmanned remote terminal, service device, or gas pump, the disclosure of the preauthorization hold and amount shall be made in conspicuous type at a location proximate to the point of payment. Provides that a violation of the disclosure requirements constitutes an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person also commits false personation when he or she knowingly and falsely represents himself or herself to be another actual person and does an act in such assumed character with intent to injure the reputation of (rather than injure) or to fraudulently represent himself or herself to the online contacts of another. Provides that a person also commits harassment through electronic communications when he or she uses electronic communication for: (1) making any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal with an intent to harass, annoy, alarm, abuse, torment, or embarrass any individual; or (2) creating a fictitious online persona or account without permission of another using another person's picture, name, or likeness with the intent to commit a fraud, emotional distress, injure the reputation of, or make contact with other personal online contacts of the nonconsenting person.

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Eliminates the repeal date of the statute creating the First Time Weapon Offender Program. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Finance Act to create the Mental Health Services Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Provides that moneys in the Mental Health Services Fund shall be distributed each month to the counties for certain specified purposes. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Imposes a surcharge of 1% of the selling price on firearm ammunition. Provides that moneys from the surcharge shall be deposited into the Mental Health Services Fund. Effective immediately.

Amends the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act. Provides that for an individual licensed under the Act, 24 hours of continuing education credits are required for every 2-year licensing period. Provides specified credit requirements for the 24-hour continuing education requirement. Provides that continuing education credit hours shall not be required to be completed in person. Effective October 1, 2024.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that election authorities may authorize service of objections to candidate nominations through electronic mail instead of personal service if the election authority responsible for convening the electoral board requires candidates to provide an electronic mail address where notices of objections and electoral board proceedings may be sent electronically instead of through personal service, requires objectors to provide an electronic mail address where notices and electoral board proceedings may be sent electronically instead of through personal service, and publishes notice of its decision to authorize service of objections to candidate nominations through electronic mail on its website within 5 business days after the effective date of the amendatory Act.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that, except for in a county with a population of at least 3,000,000 or where election judges are selected by election commissioners, an election authority may reduce the number of judges of election in each precinct from 5 to 3 for any election. Provides that, in certain cities, villages, and incorporated towns with a board of election commissioners, the board shall select and choose no less than 3 (rather than choose 5) persons as judges of election for each precinct. Effective immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that voting by physically incapacitated electors who have made proper application to the election authority not later than 5 days before the regular primary and general election shall be conducted either through vote by mail procedures or on specified premises (rather than only on specified premises). Effective Immediately.

Amends the Election Code. Provides that the State Board of Elections shall reimburse a county up to $50 for an amount paid to an election judge under specified provisions that is in excess of $100 per day. Provides that the provisions shall not affect the calculation of an election judge's compensation.

Amends the Election Code. In provisions relating to the receipt of the certificate of nomination, nomination papers, or proposed question of public policy and an objector's petition by the electoral board, provides that the chair of the electoral board shall also send a call (as well as a certified copy of its ruling with other specified documents) by registered or certified mail to the election authority to whom the ballot is certified and to the appropriate county clerk (currently, the call needs to be sent to: each of the members of the electoral board; the objector who filed the objector's petition; and either the candidate whose certificate of nomination or nomination papers are objected to or the principal proponent or attorney for proponents of a question of public policy, as the case may be, whose petitions are objected to).